[Commentary] FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR HEROIN AND OTHER OPIOID SUBSTITUTION TREATMENT.

The author responds to the article "Long-term effects of heroin-assisted treatment in Germany," by U. Verthein and K. Bonorden-Kleij, published within the journal. The article presents the results of a two year follow-up of patients enrolled in a clinical trial of heroin-assisted drug treatment (HAT) in Germany. The author considers evidence that the trial's initial benefits were maintained over a two year period and offers suggestions for how HAT can be made more accessible and cost effective.